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Space programmes region. This could have been a quarry site and a rectangular structure, approximately 250 m long, can be seen at the north-west Details of Soviet cosmodrome limit of the area. Area F has been identified by Vick as a from space shuttle photographs military launch complex (Soviet Space Programs: 1976-8(}), and possible sites of from Grant H. Thomson launch pads or silos are marked with circles. An unidentified rectangular EviDENCE that the Soviet Baikonur Cos­ There is a V -shaped feature in the feature, 1,400 m x 750 m, can be seen close modrome is situated at 63.3°E, 46.0°N has northern part of area C, strongly suggestive to the south-west side of the railway. Sites already been provided by the remote­ of a large new launch pad and associated 0 and Q show extensive activity, with Q sensing Landsat multispectral and return­ flame-pit. Its size and probable recent con­ thought to include launch-pad facilities at beam vidicon systems. But that evidence struction suggest that it could be the launch the end of the railway line. The nature of has recently been supplemented by two facility for the new heavy-lift vehicle. Area the large area immediately to the south-east colour photographs (NASA 84-HC20 and E is shown on Vick's maps as facilities for is uncertain, although extensive linear 84-HC-22) obtained using a hand-held the long-serving A-vehicle (The Illustrated features can be seen. At least two sizeable camera, with 100 mm and 250 mm lenses, Encyclopedia of Space Technology, 39, structures can be seen at P which, although during the flight of STS-9, Columbia Salamander, 1981; and Soviet Space not fully recognizable, is likely to be a (1983-116A), in December 1983. Although Programs: 1976-80, Pt 1, 48, US Govt technical site. the ground-resolution of the photography Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982). Just less than 20 km south of Tyuratam is not particularly good, it is sufficient to A new runway is under construction at are what appear to be parallel runways. If add some useful up-to-date detail to maps D, in the more northerly part of the this interpretation is correct, they are likely published by observers of the Soviet space cosmodrome. At the time the photographs to be part of an air defence system which programme. were taken, this was some 5 km long and almost certainly will have been provided So far as is known, the Soviet authorities have not yet published, for general refer­ ence, a map of the Tyuratam area showing the cosmodrome. They have, however, an­ nounced the geographical coordinates of the manned-spaceflight launch pads at 65 .5°E, 47.3°N, and press briefings for the A, Probable new vehicle Apollo-Soyuz Test Project have the assembly building. 8, Pos­ sible new heavy-lift vehicle. C, launch site as 66.0°E, 47 .8°N, presumably New area showing signs of based on Soviet information. These co­ construction, including a ordinates place the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad. D, New runway well to the north-east of the extensive and supporting facilities . E, launch facilities just north of the old town Possible Soyuz assembly of Tyuratam. Recently, former CIA facilities. F, Military launch official and photo-interpretation expert, area. G, Tyuratam old town Dino Brugioni, has explained how U-2 and new city of Leninsk. H, photography enabled the site to be located, SyrDar'yariver.l, Airport. J, Diirmentobe. K, Bay-Khoza. following intelligence reports in the 1950s L, Possible air defence air­ of a missile site somewhere south of the field. M, Possible old quarry Aral Sea (Air Force Mag., 108; March site. N, Possible technical site. 1984). In the absence of any Soviet 0, Possible technical site. P, acknowledgement at the time of such a Probable technical site. Q, facility, a war-time German map, showing Possible technical site and/or Tyuratam as a nearby railway station, launch-pad facilities. provided the name by which the cosmo­ drome has become widely known in the West. The STS-9 photographs indicate exten­ sive disturbance of the steppe over an area 2 Map of the Soviet Baikonur Cosmodrome at Tyuratam constructed from photographs taken from in excess of 150 km , in region C of the the space shuttle Columbia. accompanying map, which is based on photography. Most noticeable in this area are the three very large new buildings (A) may not yet have been completed. Extend­ for the cosmodrome. The location would which, because of their size, are probably ing from and in line with the runway, in the provide airspace clear of the launch vehicle assembly buildings. The approxi­ direction of the typical launch azimuth, is a complex. mate dimensions of one of these buildings track across the steppe, approximately 20 Although the photographs do not pro­ is 220m x 190m x 23 m; another is 220m km long, that may indicate future develop­ vide great detail, they clearly show the x 80 m x 35 m; the third has dimensions ment. Buildings and signs of construction extensive activity now in progress at the 155 m x 110 m x 23 m. At B, approxi­ activity in an area on the north side of the Baikonur Cosmodrome and provide a mately 2 km to the north-east of these three runway are thought to be the Soviet 'space­ good guide for the West to the Soviet buildings, the shadow of what is possibly plane'. authorities' intention of continuing with the new heavy-lift vehicle, once referred to The ground in the area N shows some their investment in space programmes. 0 as Type G, can be seen. From the solar evidence of disturbance compared with the elevation and the length of the shadow, the surrounding steppe, possibly indicating vehicle would appear to be more than 90 m some work in progress at that site. The Grant H. Thomson is in the Kettering Group tall, in good agreement with Vick's terrain in the area M appears very uneven, and can be contacted at 4 Lullington Garth, speculation (Spaceflight 25, 159; 1984). unlike the rolling or fairly flat surrounding Boreham Wood, Herts WD62HE. © 1984 Nature Publishing Group